6 responses to “Obama: Some Gun Control Measures ‘I Can Accomplish Through Executive Action’”

I can’t think of any actions within reach of an Executive Order that would matter. Even if Obama had the authority to order background checks for individual firearms sales, and he does not have that authority, it wouldn’t matter because virtually no criminals are buying their guns from lawful owners and because none (or almost none) of the “public mass shooters” have been people with criminal or mental health records to disqualify them.
I understand wanting to restrict firearms purchases for someone who has actually been adjudicated as incompetent or insane, but that should be the threshhold. Unless, of course, people really want to stigmatize those who seek treatment for mental illness.

It’s time to remember what the Soviet Union did with mental disability. The ‘mentally disabled’ were confined to hospitals, for life. The ‘mentally disabled’ included dissident poets and novelists, people who wanted an open democracy, etc.

If there’s a mental health requirement for gun ownership in the US, who will draw the line, and where? Have you ever been on antidepressants, or ever had a DUI? Or busted for shoplifting? Maybe you need a permission slip from a licensed mental therapy provider before you can carry.

Or, maybe, applying for a gun permit is considered proof that you’re dangerously anti-social and thus must be denied. Any government power can be abused, and someone will stand up and say how the abuse is a bright idea.

“…It’s time to remember what the Soviet Union did with mental disability. The ‘mentally disabled’ were confined to hospitals, for life. The ‘mentally disabled’ included dissident poets and novelists, people who wanted an open democracy, etc….. ”

One thing he could do is to enforce the laws already on the books, like charging the people who try to buy a gun when they are on the NICS list. 44 prosecutions out of thousands of attempts. Also prosecute those who flaunt the DC laws openly, but then get a pass because his wife is an attorney and buddy of the AG (I’m looking at you, Gregory!).

Remember that the power of executive orders expands greatly when we’re in a state of war. Lincoln sent the army to shut down newspapers he didn’t like. FDR threw Japanese Americans in jail for the duration of WW-II without trial. Both GW Bush and Barack Obama have exercised the power of summary execution by drone with a simple wave of a presidential pen. Don’t assume that Mr. Obama’s executive powers don’t apply to private gun ownership or that the Second Amendment will protect you from his whims.